Sony Unveils PlayStation Plus Updates for August 1st, 2012

Sony's Ross McGrath of the PlayStation Store Team has unveiled some new PlayStation Plus updates to ring in the new month today, as follows:

From tomorrow until 5th September (that's five weeks this time) all our PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to download Dead Space 2 as part of their subscription.

Special thanks go out to EA Games for their support in bringing this fantastic blend of action and survival horror to our members.

Engineer Isaac Clarke returns for the sequel to the critically acclaimed Dead Space. After waking from a coma in a massive space city known as The Sprawl, the lone survivor of a horrific alien infection finds himself confronting a catastrophic new nightmare.

Not only that but he's also battling dementia, is being hunted by the government and is haunted by visions of his dead girlfriend.

And what where would we be without a massive 50% off all the associated DLC for our Game of the Month? For the next two weeks you can grab the 'Severed' expansion, and three extra special weapons and suit packs for Dead Space 2 at half price.

Simply pick up any of them you like when you go to claim your game from the Plus section on the Store. And with that, let's roll film...

Not played the original Dead Space? May I suggest you pick it up from the Store if you'd like to visit Isaac's earlier adventure? Alternatively, in the Trailers section you'll find a video to help you catch up on the Dead Space story events prior to Dead Space 2.

BUT WAIT! There's more...

As some of you already know, I have promised you all some exciting extras this month and the first of these comes in the shape of a game brand new to SCEE PlayStation Store - Rock of Ages from Atlus.

A rock-solid combination of rock-rolling action, deep strategy, and captivating art and music from different ages of history, this is a game of crush or be crushed! Two castles stand opposed; one is yours, the other is your enemy's.

They're jerks and their castle sucks, so you're going to try to smash it using an enormous boulder. Even as they build up their defenses, you're ready to roll over them in order to raze that unsightly tower. But beware! There's a giant boulder headed your way, too.

Rock of Ages is available at no-cost for the next four weeks (until 29th August) and is not part of the usual rotation for Plus members - it's an added extra for all our subscribers this August. That means come the mid-month update you still have two more fantastic titles to grab for Your Instant Game Collection.

And that's not the end of it! There's EVEN more to come, including extra value especially for Plus members on Andy's fantastic Summer special offers, launch discounts on a selection of new titles and a few more special bits and pieces to come to light later in the month.

I will be back on 15th August, during gamescom 2012 with two more games for Your Instant Game Collection to replace Darksiders and Renegade Ops, both of which have only two weeks left as part of YIGC.

I'll also have a launch date for the very first of our PlayStation Plus Presents indie titles, Retro/Grade!

Don't forget the nine other fantastic games available to download for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Darksiders (83)

Deceived by the forces of evil into prematurely bringing about the end of the world, War - the first Horseman of the Apocalypse - stands accused of breaking the sacred law by inciting a war between heaven and hell. Dishonored and stripped of his powers, War must return to Earth to search for the truth and punish those responsible.

Darksiders will be available until 15th August 2012 - ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT!

Renegade Ops (80)

Renegade Ops is the most explosive experience on PSN. Control five different vehicles on land and air, each with unique abilities in stunning environments. Power up your skills for the ultimate in destruction. Play alone or team up offline with two player split screen and experience the chaos of four-player online co-op with your friends.

Renegade Ops will be available until 15th August 2012 - ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT!

Outland (83)

In the middle of Balance and Chaos, now stands one man whose efforts may bridge the ancient divide, or doom the world to destruction. The award-winning studio Housemarque, maker of Super Stardust HD, has created an ambitious platformer inspired by epic adventures such as the Prince of Persia series. Each player's adventure will take him between light and darkness and force him to adapt to an ever-changing world.

Outland will be available until 12th September 2012

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD (82)

In the dusty, undeveloped wastelands of Western Mudos, cantankerous townsfolk find their settlements besieged by belligerent outlaws.

Along comes Stranger, a tall, dark and enigmatic bounty hunter with a mission to capture troublemakers and scoundrels and return them to civilized townships for incarceration.

But Stranger is keeping a secret and needs expensive surgery to survive. In his quest to earn enough Moolah, Stranger reluctantly accepts the ultimate bounty from the owner of the Mongo River and suddenly his adventure takes a very different turn.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD will be available until 12th September 2012

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (84)

With Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, enjoy a classic formula of combat, exploration, puzzles, and breathtaking visuals in this fast-paced arcade experience. Team up with a friend or go at it alone as you traverse and solve deadly traps, fight hordes of undead enemies, and collect dozens of weapons, artifacts and relics.

Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light will be available until 10th October 2012

Saints Row 2 (82)

Saints Row 2 brings true freedom to open-world gaming. Players can play as who they want and how they want. Limitless customization, multiplayer co-op, competitive multiplayer, killer combat and vehicles are just a few of the features that make Saints Row 2 the most over the top sandbox in gaming.

Saints Row 2 will be available until 10th October 2012

inFamous 2 (83)

When Empire City comes under attack from a mysterious creature known only as "The Beast", not even the electric super powers of Cole MacGrath can save the town from complete destruction. Battered and defeated, Cole finds himself fleeing towards the southern U.S. city of New Marais in search of a way to overcome this powerful new nemesis. Playing as Cole, explore the vast, decaying metropolis of New Marais and form relationships with the good people of the city, or side with their corrupt counterparts.

Available all year round.

Motorstorm Apocalypse (77)

Test your bottle and your reflexes as you hit the streets of a crumbling city in 40 nerve-shattering races. Take your chances against the apocalypse in 13 awesome vehicle classes, from rocket-powered Superbikes and lightning-fast Rally Cars, to formidable Monster Trucks and fearsome Big Rigs.

Create your own online race events for up to 16 players, customise and share thousands of vehicles and unlock tons of perks and rewards to smash the opposition and climb the global leaderboards.

Available all year round.

LittleBigPlanet 2 (91)

Download LittleBigPlanet 2 and take your Sackboy on an adventure packed with clever tools, quirky characters and loads of multiplayer fun. Get creative and build absolutely anything you can imagine, from shoot-'em-ups and racing games to your very own movies and music.

Then share your unique creations online with the rest of the LittleBigPlanet community. There are millions of levels out there just waiting to be discovered, all built by fellow LittleBigPlanet fans right across the globe.